Thermomechanical modelling and wear analysis of poly aryl ether ketone incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and tungsten carbide nanoparticles

In this work, hardness, wear resistance, modelling of dynamic mechanical properties and activation energy of thermal degradation of poly aryl ether ketone reinforced with tungsten carbide combined with carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes are reported. Melt mixing technique followed by injection molding was carried out for the production of poly aryl ether ketone/tungsten carbide/carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotube individual and hybrid nanocomposites. The hardness of the nanocomposites was measured using shore D hardness equipment and it was found out that poly aryl ether ketone reinforced with 0.75 wt.% tungsten carbide and 0.75 wt.% carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (1.5WF) showcased the highest hardness value and an increment of 7.05% compared to base matrix. The hybrid nanocomposite 1.5WF was observed to be minimum specific wear rate at 10 N and 20 N. The storage modulus and damping behaviour of the individual and hybrid nanocomposites were modelled using classical equations. The integrated procedural decomposition temperature and activation energy were calculated, showing that 1.5WF nanocomposites exhibited a 45.63% higher activation energy compared to the base poly aryl ether ketone matrix using the Coats–Redfern method. The results revealed that the carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotube and tungsten carbide nanoparticles significantly influenced the Shore D hardness and sliding wear behaviour of the individual and hybrid nanocomposites.